Robert Piguet Bandit : Perfume Review

In the constellation of Caron Tabac Blond (1919), Chanel Cuir de Russie (1924) and Parfums Grès Cabochard (1959), united by the smoky leather, Robert Piguet Bandit is the most fearless and daring. It is neither coy and naughty nor aloof and chic. It does not hide its aggressive animalic side under the layers of vanilla like Tabac Blond, nor softens it with the rose and jasmine sweetness like Cuir de Russie. A classical chypre, Bandit is unmistakably alluring, even if it is not the easiest acquaintance to make, especially for someone unfamiliar with this genre.

Bandit was born out of the dreams about pirates and sea voyages. Robert Piguet, a former Poiret fashion designer, upon establishing his own house in 1940, decided to create a fragrance to accompany his new avant-garde couture collection that had models walk down the runway wearing black masks and brandishing knives. His encounter with the perfumer Germaine Cellier, a rebel herself, led to the creation of Bandit in 1944, an essence of rebellion. It shocked and enticed simultaneously, its dark leather notes hinting at dark desires. …

A fascinating aspect of Bandit is not so much its showcasing of animalic darkness, as its dissonance of the aggressive leather with the scintillating and verdant accord. Galbanum layered with bergamot possesses an uplifting green wetness that is reminiscent of walking through a garden after a heavy rain. As moisture begins to evaporate in the warm air, the scents of leaves and grasses are intertwined in the most intoxicating mélange. The darkness is allowed to pervade the composition, first hinting at its presence under the green burst of galbanum, and then shedding all layers to display its leathery and musky side.

Cellier created the leather accord of Bandit by relying upon the aggressively smoky notes of the aroma-chemical isobutyl quinoline, and in the vintage formula, the shocking nature of the composition is most apparent. While it does not possess the rustic aura of Coty Chypre, the contrasting of accords reveals a somewhat abrupt and fauvist character that marks most of Cellier’s compositions.

In 1999, after twenty-five years of not being available, Bandit was reintroduced. Comparing the vintage and the modern makes one realize that the current version of Bandit has been toned down, however the spirit of the composition remains. The same wet galbanum accord scintillates on the skin, underscored by the subtlety of barely open flower buds. The leather notes are folded over a chypre base of earthy vetiver, patchouli and oakmoss. It is a scent of a place and of a person, of mystery and of fantasy.

Bandit EDT is the sharpest of the concentrations, the leather notes appearing as if with a crack of a whip. The EDP tempers the smoky sharpness with the more pronounced white floral softness and vetiver earthiness. The parfum is the least aggressive; while presenting a richer initial verdant accord, it stays close to the skin, sustaining the languid wetness even in the folds of its dark leather base. I prefer either the EDT for its smoky sharpness or the parfum for its elegant subtlety. The EDP dries down rather like grassy on my skin, with a disconcerting tendency to remind me of wet tobacco. As an example of chypre allure and Cellier’s genius, Bandit remains a gem, confident, strong and elegant, much like its avant-garde creator.

Notes include galbanum, orange, bergamot, neroli, jasmine, rose, tuberose, leather, patchouli, mousse de chene, vetiver, musk. Either concentration of Bandit is easily obtainable at various online discount stores as a simply google search would reveal. Thus, the EDP can be found for under $20 and the parfum for under $35.

76 Comments

julien: Hi my dear.
Very nice review.
I once smelled BANDIT,but it is a very tough perfume.
Waouh,so spiced,strong and a kind of leather made of still living animals!lol

Not really my taste,i must confess it even disgusts me.

Then,i must admit this is a masterpiece,noone can deny it is original and elegant if well wore.

Germaine cellier made amazing fragances,my favorite will always be FRACAS.
By the way,when we think about it,she never compromised,all her creations were revolutions:BANDIT for its agressivity,FRACAS for being more than tubéreuse,the perfect diva scent,unforgettable,CABOCHARD,and i think also Vent vert from BALMAIN.

She was full of creativity.

Sorry for bandit,which i don’t like,even if i recognize its beauty…these perfumes are like paints:you love them or not,but they never let you go away without a souvenir.

Sisonne: Dear V, I have a sample of Bandit somewhere & want to try it soon – I have to search for it 😉 Some weeks ago a very friendly sales lady told me I should try since I´m into leather scents. She told me it´s something very special.
Now that I read your lovely review I´m really eager to discover it! November 22, 2005 at 7:12amReply

Judith (lilybp): Hi V,
In honor of Bandit day, I am wearing Bandit parfum (from a vintage bottle I got on Ebay–I didn’t realize there was a difference in the reformulation). I really love the parfum; I’m enough of a wimp, I guess, that I usually prefer it to the EDT–but when I’m in the right mood, the EDT really hits (and I mean “hits”) home: I think of its opening as “the Green Monster” (I live in Boston). I haven’t tried the EDP, and after reading your review, I feel that perhaps I don’t need too. So glad you did this–wonderful review and profile! November 22, 2005 at 8:28amReply

Shifts: I find the EdP beautiful to say the least, but not really daring at all. Sounds like a purchase of the EdT should be on my list (it actually has been for quite a while). November 22, 2005 at 4:47amReply

co: Dear V,

….huuuh fantastic I’ve been waiting for this review to come and I’m enjoying every single word of it now!

2 weeks ago I discovered Bandit and almost had tears in my eyes, from the moment it was sprayed on my wrist I couldn’t let go of it and each and every little change and nuance in it is so overwhelmingly RIGHT.

I bought it within the same hour and am still a bit shocked how it is so me. First time ever that a perfume does this…there’s always a little sth in other scents that’s almost there but not quite right, like too sweet, too round, too lovely…

The only store that sells it here only got the EDP and the perfume, so I chose the EDP and definitely the green and grassy, herbal notes are great. Also love Vent Vert, but only got the new version…I know I would prefer the original more herb/dry and raw notes.

You can really feel Bandit is a milestone, so many contemporary scents seem inspired by it…there’s some Antaeus in it, even for the design of the black glassbottle, Mitsouko and La Nuit and many more…but Bandit goes into this rebel-dry and independent direction where all other scents go “lovely/pleasing”…never thought I could find this.

For wearing it’s definitely empowering and brings out the casual, refined rebel, masculine/feminine attitude and clothing style…the wardrobe of the Bandit woman, wow you could develop a great line on this…or a new essay Victoria?

…this post is long..am still so very much in love with Bandit…thank you!!! November 22, 2005 at 5:07amReply

Liz: Wonderful review, V! I went all out this morning, since I knew you’d be discussing My Beloved today. Bandit shower creme, Bandit body lotion, Bandit parfum, Bandit EDP! I have not smelled the vintage formulation nor the EDT, but since I’ve never met an incarnation of Bandit I didn’t love, they’re definitely on my wish list.

Even the weather cooperated (Bandit thrives in the rain).

It’s simply the smell of my primordial brain. I loved it before I was born. 🙂 November 22, 2005 at 10:58amReply

Robin: Lovely review, V. Cannot love Bandit as I do Fracas, but it is a stunning perfume. November 22, 2005 at 12:52pmReply

Test Subject: Tania, Zorro might be a good fit but V’s description actually reminded of the Dread Pirate Roberts from The Princess Bride. In particular, the scene where he has to battle through the fire swamp to escape with his love! November 22, 2005 at 1:06pmReply

Christine: I love the audacity of Bandit, however I can’t wear it. Your review, or rather a mini-essay, is wonderful. Thank you!!! November 22, 2005 at 1:28pmReply

Sisonne: V, off topic: Have you perhaps heard about Parfums de Rosine having released a new fragrance: Rose de Feu? I´m very curious about it! The description sounds wonderful: warm, sensual, with a bit of honey (< - I´m not sure about that!). November 22, 2005 at 2:10pm Reply

julien: Hello
Well,i just know the new VENT VERT,and it is said the old one was even more green.
Then,what can i say?
I don’t like it green…but vent vert is like chanel n°19 for me in a more joyous way,even fresher.
Not that easy,but so appealing.
So like BANDIT,i don’t like it for my tastes,but in real,i would like to love it,because it is so well done!

Tania: I still say the current version (I have never smelled the original) smells just like marijuana in the topnotes. 😉

I adore green, I adore leather, and I’m a big fan of Bandit. However, I don’t think Piguet’s fragrance refers to pirates. I think it refers to Zorro! November 22, 2005 at 9:57amReply

Marina: Wonderful review, I loved the comparisons to Tabac Blond and Cuir de Russie, so true.
I adore Bandit, but it is a very hard work for me to wear it, if you know what I mean. 🙂 November 22, 2005 at 10:11amReply

julien: And i remember well,you like green perfumes.
I just can’t bear them at all,even if it is soft.
There are only a few things i don’t like in perfumes:Green,aromatic,and too spicy(because cinnamon and cumin stays for hours in my poor skin,i smell like food!).

But i think green perfumes are very refined:it’s like a natural sophistication,recalling grass,real flowers and woods. November 22, 2005 at 3:14pmReply

sarcon: V, what a fascinating review of one of my favorite perfumes! Thank you for this. What a remarkable woman Cellier was. Greens are a hit or miss for me, but combinations of galbanum, patchouli and moss nearly always win me over (those sharp greens that figure in “fresh” scents do not). This and your previous entry make me want to try Vent Vert. I rarely wear Bandit but on those occasions it is THE perfect scent for me. My fragrance wardrobe would be incomplete without it (I wear the EDP). November 22, 2005 at 4:24pmReply

Test Subject: T, thanks for validating that it is a cult classic. I recall that V was somewhat skeptical 🙂 I haven’t read the book but clearly I should. November 22, 2005 at 4:33pmReply

julien: I know pretty well CARON.
But they are not that easy to wear.
I love NARCISSE NOIR indeed.
I also love EN AVION,which is a woody version of l’HEURE BLEUE from Guerlain to me.

CARON still makes beautiful extraits de parfum,exactly what i love,but it is hard to find the good one.

Liz smellslikeleaves: A perfect tribute to one of the most daring, brilliant perfume creations of all time. I love everything it represents, particularly the fascinating Cellier herself. I’ve only tried the contemporary EDT, which shocked and intrigued me with its sharp green galbanum and rugged leather notes, and somehow worked well on my skin. With a perfume as extreme and risky as this one, I certainly understand the strong love-or-hate reactions. But then, that’s what I love about Bandit–it’s brash, in your face, unwilling to compromise, oozing with danger and power. Alas, it’s just too extreme for me to wear frequently, although I will always have a small vial of it available for those femme fatale moods. I really ought to seek out the vintage and current EDP/Parfum versions as well, which may be easier for me to wear without feeling overly self-conscious. *grin* By the way, I can’t imagine going Bandit^4, but kudos to Liz for doing so!

Test Subject: Ummm, yes, I may have seen the film a few times. Still, I think the book might be worth reading just to appreciate the contrast. November 22, 2005 at 5:45pmReply

BoisdeJasmin: Shifts, yes, the EDT might suit you better, especially if you would like more of an effect. The EDP is just too floral for my tastes, with too grassy of a drydown. November 22, 2005 at 1:24pmReply

julien: Well at first,EN AVION is very agressive,then it becomes a soft perfume elegant,luminous,full of romantism and beauty.
In that way,it reminds me l’HEURE BLEUE in a masculine version or a woody one.
Just tell me about it,please!
🙂
Thanks.
Kisses dear.
Yours, julien. November 22, 2005 at 6:27pmReply

BoisdeJasmin: Dear Co, thank you for sharing such a wonderful experience with Bandit. I was touched reading about it and very happy for you at the same time. It is indeed rare when a fragrace can achieve this, and I am glad that it happened to you.

The EDP is definitely greener (similar to the explosive verdancy of Vent Vert), while the parfum is less aggresive. Galbanum notes are very tricky, and it is fascinating how Cellier managed to weave them into the composition. Aggressive black and aggressive green–quite amazing!

As for masculine/feminine, you are right! So many themes can be developed here. It is not a coincidence that chypre genre was very popular in the interwar period when women wanted to feel strong and independent. November 22, 2005 at 1:36pmReply

BoisdeJasmin: Julien, what a wonderful comment: “you love them or not,but they never let you go away without a souvenir.” I cannot agree more! I suppose that it is the main definition of artistic merit for me–does this composition move me? And Bandit definitely does.

Do you wear Vent Vert? What are your thoughts on it? November 22, 2005 at 1:38pmReply

BoisdeJasmin: C, I would love to hear your thoughts. I find it very special, even if it is not the easier fragrance to appreciate (especially if you do not wear much chypre). It is an amazing composition, however, and definitely something one should try. November 22, 2005 at 1:46pmReply

BoisdeJasmin: J, you are so lucky to have found the vintage! The differences are slight, although the vintage I have is quite concentrated and I have to make an allowance for that as well as damage. Mostly, the difference is in terms of how pronounced the leather notes are. I think that the formula was respected nevertheless when it was reintroduced. November 22, 2005 at 1:48pmReply

BoisdeJasmin: T, I concede that the last experience with marijuana I had was 10 years ago (during my own rebellious stage), so I do not think that those associations would be very strong for me. 🙂

Zorro is a great reference, but Robert Piguet was indeed inspired by pirates. Or according to what I read anyway. At any rate, any rebellious, anti-establishment force would fit this fragrance that has all of those elements. November 22, 2005 at 1:51pmReply

BoisdeJasmin: M, I understand completely. I myself used to reach for Fracas more often, however lately it is leather and Bandit. I shudder to think what that might mean according to a perfume psychology test. November 22, 2005 at 1:52pmReply

Tania: V, I’m probably thinking Zorro because of the black bandit mask and because I think of bandits as landlocked highwaymen, not robbers of the sea. There’s also something about the bitter, rough smell of Mexican leather goods that I think I smell in Bandit. Mexican leather, in my experience, isn’t the buttery stuff of expensive Italian handbags. It’s the sturdy stuff of cowboy boots. November 22, 2005 at 1:57pmReply

BoisdeJasmin: Liz, today you really are a Bandit queen! You are absolutely right about Bandit thriving in the rain. I was wearing it this weekend and while walking outside in the slight drizzle, I noticed how it unfolded beautifully.

You should definitely look out for some vintage Bandit. I bet that it will be a wonderful discovery for you. November 22, 2005 at 2:19pmReply

BoisdeJasmin: Thank you, dear N! I love all of the leathers you mentioned, and I actually find them easier to wear, because they are drier. However, Bandit still holds a place of honour for me.

BoisdeJasmin: R, thank you! I think that it is one of the most stunning compositions I have encountered, but easy going it is not. November 22, 2005 at 2:25pmReply

BoisdeJasmin: P, I remember that scene! Is that from the forest with the carnivorous creatures? November 22, 2005 at 2:26pmReply

BoisdeJasmin: Christine, thank you! I am glad that you enjoyed it. November 22, 2005 at 2:27pmReply

BoisdeJasmin: T, I can completely understand now. No, I think that Zorro is a great reference, and your description of Mexican leather is great. “Mexican leather, in my experience, isn’t the buttery stuff of expensive Italian handbags.” How true! There is nothing buttery and expensive about Bandit. November 22, 2005 at 2:28pmReply

BoisdeJasmin: C, I heard about it, however I have not tried it. I think that honeyed element of rose is naturally present, and chamomile is used often to accent it, however I agree with you that too much honey may not be a good thing.

However, I love the Rosine line, and I am hopeful. Do you wear anything from it? November 22, 2005 at 2:30pmReply

BoisdeJasmin: Julien, the old one is sharper and greener, less green-floral than the current one. I was just replying under another article that when it was redone in 1999, specialty bases Cellier used for the original were no longer available, therefore Calice Becker who did the reorchestration had to find other solutions. I smell more hyacinth and lily of the valley in the new one, but like you said, it is definitely very green. November 22, 2005 at 2:58pmReply

BoisdeJasmin: J, you have such great memory! 🙂 I cannot take too much spice either, however there are some fragrances with cinnamon that I like. Cumin is a controversial spice on me. Too much, and it is very unpleasant, however a tiny bit is rather sensual.

I forget, do you like any of Caron fragrances? For some reason, I thought that you might find Narcisse Noir interesting. November 22, 2005 at 3:21pmReply

Liz: So happy to read yet more thoughtful comments about Bandit, and I have to say:

“I know pretty well CARON.
But they are not that easy to wear.”

is my favorite poem of the day. 🙂

I have thought about starting a series of fragrance-inspired poems, so Julien, be prepared to sue me for plagiarism if I decide to steal this. November 22, 2005 at 8:26pmReply

Tania: “Is that from the forest with the carnivorous creatures?”

Rodents of unusual size? I don’t think they exist. November 22, 2005 at 3:32pmReply

BoisdeJasmin: Oh, yes, the rodents of unusual size! I could not remember what those creatures were. I saw the film once after I was assured that it was a cult classic. Is it really? November 22, 2005 at 3:54pmReply

Tania: Yes, it is, really. I myself have memorized possibly the entire thing.

However, I must say, I do prefer the book by William Goldman, which I read when I was probably too young to get all of it. It’s part parody, part homage, all wonderful. November 22, 2005 at 4:22pmReply

BoisdeJasmin: T, I have to see it again, but perhaps I should read the book first. Your description of it as part parody, part homage is very much what attracted me to the film.

By the way, inspired by that amazing Vietnamese restaurant, I am making nothing but Vietnamese all week long! November 22, 2005 at 4:31pmReply

BoisdeJasmin: S, thank you! I like my greens a little bit earthy, rather than crisp and fresh. This must be the reason why I love green chypre. The dissonance between the green top and earthy, mossy base is very appealing to me, and I find it very elegant.

Interestingly enough, I was just testing Coeur-Joie by Cellier, and I notice the same galbanum greenness in it as well. It is much more delicate, but vibrant nevertheless. November 22, 2005 at 4:35pmReply

BoisdeJasmin: P, I was a bit skeptical, I admit. It was strange to see it among your collection of LOTR and Fight Club. November 22, 2005 at 4:40pmReply

Tania: P, I don’t know how the book would read to someone who has already seen the movie. (I read the book before the movie was produced.) But there are passages that I was sorely sad weren’t replicated in the film. It’s told from the point of view of a man who remembers his father reading to him a fairy tale called The Princess Bride when he was a kid, and how much he loved it. The man grows up and finds himself in a loveless marriage, with a spoiled kid who doesn’t appreciate him, and it occurs to him he wants to give the kid this book. He finds it, and is horrified to find that the book is actually a thinly veiled political commentary on some long-lost set of grudges, and that his father only read him “the good parts.” So he presents the story as “the good parts version” and, amusingly, fills in all the ellipses along the way with descriptions of the dull political commentary that was left out.

I find it funny because I’ve gone through something like it with the Narnia books, which I now realize are pious Christian allegories, but which I found so fantastical and amusing when I was a kid. It’s a common gripe with the literary interpretation crowd: they suck all the magic out of stories. 🙂 November 22, 2005 at 4:47pmReply

BoisdeJasmin: T, yes, just like reading a feminist interpretation of Cinderella has ruined the fairy tale for me as well. Forget about Sleeping Beauty!

I have seen the film only once, so I think that I still might enjoy the book. P. must have the film memorized too. November 22, 2005 at 5:33pmReply

BoisdeJasmin: J, now that you have mentioned En Avion as a woody version of L’Heure Bleue, I have to retest it right away.

Caron can be difficult to wear as well, however maybe that is why they appeal to me. I like challenges. 🙂 November 22, 2005 at 5:35pmReply

BoisdeJasmin: Liz, I also love that there is so much of a creator in Cellier’s fragrances. You can really get a glimpse into her personality. I admire the daring stance of Bandit and its controversial air. As much as I like modern perfumery, the modern methods of marketing and focus group testing make me wonder how it is possible to put out truly original fragrances. From various conversations, I understand that the fragrance has to be a hedionic green floral or a gourmand composition to succeed. Maybe, then it is just the modern predilections, rather than marketing itself. I do not know. I am simply throwing random ideas. I suppose I just want more diversity and more innovation.

As for the Vietnamese restaurant, it is in NYC, on 3rd and 29th, if I remember correctly. I hope that Tania will see this, because she is the one who knows the place. November 22, 2005 at 5:41pmReply

Tania: V, the Vietnamese place I took you to was Anh at 3rd Ave. and 27th St.

For a completely wonderful interpretation of an old fairy tale, I also recommend Robert Coover’s “Briar Rose,” a retelling of the Sleeping Beauty story. By retelling, I mean retelling: he tells the story in a rhythmic, dreamlike fashion, dreams within dreams, over and over, using several variations of the story. It’s wicked, smart, poignant, and incredibly short. November 22, 2005 at 6:16pmReply

BoisdeJasmin: P, a few times is probably an understatement. 🙂 I am just teasing you. November 22, 2005 at 7:54pmReply

I have heard of “Briar Rose,” however have not come across it yet. Thank you for mentioning. I shall add it to my ever increasing list of books to read. November 22, 2005 at 7:56pmReply

BoisdeJasmin: J, I shall try and compare, and I shall certainly write about it. I have not reviewed En Avion yet. November 22, 2005 at 7:57pmReply

BoisdeJasmin: Julien’s descriptions are always very poetic, and that little haiku is great!

Glad to give a tribute to your beloved Bandit, Liz! 🙂 November 22, 2005 at 8:36pmReply

co: Dear V,
now I’m in awe by your reply!

…”the chypre genre was very popular in the interwar period when women wanted to feel strong and independent”
this is soo very interesting!!

wearing Bandit means to me: being open for adventure and the unexpected with a very grounded rooted core, connected with nature and life around me…

…so this is what it evokes and smells like and enhances in my being at the same time, wow this is amazing to see the interaction of mood/subconsciuosness and smell how it enhances and pushes further…

does our brain and gut know better than we do what scents we need to pick for the day, before we are even aware of it? like choosing warm, envelopping scents when we crave protection etc…???

Guess, it’s like with colours and clothing that we choose for wearing, epressing ourselves in sub-conscious signals we are not even aware of ourselves..most of the time! 🙂 November 22, 2005 at 9:46pmReply

julien: Did i say something wrong?
I meant,i know caron perfumes,but they are not that easy to wear.
Maybe i didn’t write it all properly,sorry if my english is not perfect.

BoisdeJasmin: Co, I never realized it until recently, but there exists a whole discourse on the relationship between perfume choice and personality. It is quite interesting, even though it is of course very abstract. There is something to be said about the inituitive decision making though. I crave vanilla whenever I feel stressed out or tired, much like I crave jasmine whenever I feel overwhelmed by the approach of winter. Some decisions take places on a much deeper level than others.

It is very interesting to ponder this! November 23, 2005 at 3:24amReply

co: Victoria,
you are way smarter than I am – when feeling really stressed I do need lots of chocolate 🙂
The linkage between mood, personality, perfumechoice is probably going on very psychological, scientific minefield…nevertheless my curiosity wants to learn more – can you give me some links/readingtips?
thanks a lot in advance! November 23, 2005 at 5:18amReply

I shall look for some sources for you, but meanwhile Jellinek’s work might be very interesting. I shall get back to you with a proper citation. November 23, 2005 at 11:55amReply

BoisdeJasmin: Julien, oh, no, Liz was giving you a compliment! And so was I. Your way of writing is very poetic, and whenever I read it, I think that I am reading a little poem. It just flows so nicely together. Your English is great! November 23, 2005 at 11:57amReply

BoisdeJasmin: J, do maintain your wonderful romantic mind! It is great to encounter someone like you. November 23, 2005 at 5:31pmReply

Also, Marian Bendeth does some interesting work related to this sphere. As Basenotes describe it, “As a fragrance specialist, with her own company, Sixth Scents, she uses her nose, her expertise and her keenly honed intuitive sense to do personalized fragrance wardrobing based on body chemistry, personality, lifestyle and environment.” Her company is fascinating. Here is a great interview from Basenotes:http://www.basenotes.net/articles/int-mbendeth.html

Hope that you will find it interesting! November 23, 2005 at 11:43pmReply

co: Dear Victoria,

wow, you’re so quick!
…can’t read all this now, got to work – but will surely let you know some thoughts on this later.
really appreciate your energy to find these links! have a wonderfull break!
thank you!!!! November 24, 2005 at 9:08pmReply

G. Glaze: I love Bandit, and when I first starting wearing it about 3 years ago, learned I prefer the EDT. I smoke small cigars, and on a cruise ship I was in the cigar smoking room. A gentleman in the room told me he loved the aroma that was coming from me. He said he could smell leather and there are no leather seats in this room! It is almost my exclusive choice of fragrance although I do sometimes wear Royal Secret, and Mahora.
Thanks for your information. June 5, 2006 at 3:31amReply

Romina: I put it on. My breath catches, I get a bit of a wheeze in the back of my throat, my lips swell, the cat seems to hate it- but I will wear this. This is how great a perfume it is. dries down to warm and elegant but nothing soft or cloying. can’t explain, but is a masterpiece. June 30, 2006 at 10:47pmReply

Patty: Several years ago I puchased Bandit EDP in Seattle. It was forceful, not sweet and rather masculine. I loved it but it gave me a headache and sometimes did not blend with my skin….smelling a little to sharp or harsh.
I threw the bottle away. Just this week I began longing for Bandit and found the Parfum. Wow, soft, warm, sensual…very womanly. I hate sickeningly sweet perfumes so a little leather and patchouli fill the bill. I love it, love it, love it. It becomes one with me instead of screaming “Hey everyone…get out of the way, cuz you are going to have this stuff up you nose all day.” The bottle is as sophisticated as the scent.

By the way, what is with all the clone, all too fresh and watery perfumes? Everything smells alike and is quite discusting…like fabric softener. I do wear Coco and Coco Mademoiselle and Private Collection by Estee’ Lauder..and sometimes Magie Noire but that’s it. Patty September 29, 2006 at 8:46pmReply

Robert: There’s much of vintage Bandit to be found in Guerlain’s Derby, unless I’m losing my bearings. June 10, 2013 at 5:35amReply

John: I started wearing my wife’s Bandit about a year ago. I love it so much she recently bought me a bottle. I love the spice in it which kind of makes it almost uni-sex. I might smell a little girly when I wear it but I don’t care. At least I smell good 🙂 July 29, 2013 at 3:52pmReply

Mos’ Beth: I’m rather confused about Bandit. I recently bought a bottle of EdT at a discount store at the shopping mall. I quite like its bitter sharpness, along with some powdery sweetness, (but strangely not all that much leather to my nose.) Now I read that all of the EdT is from the (inferior) mid 90’s Alfin version, before F,F&C took control and did the 1999 reformulation that is so highly thought of. My bottle has a gold top as well, which online rumors suggest is also a giveaway that it is the Alfin version. But you and others speak highly of the EdT. What is the real deal? January 6, 2014 at 4:48pmReply

Sharon: I always enjoy your reviews Victoria… but I was a bit confused at the end of your review for Bandit. You write that Bandit can be purchased for ‘under $20’ or ‘under $35’…. where can we find such an extreme bargain? Or was this the price when you wrote your review in 2005. I have been searching many websites, and the cheapest price I find is around $62 and I’m never certain it could be the authentic fragrance. Thanks so much for your advice! February 4, 2014 at 2:41pmReply

Victoria: It’s been almost 10 years since I wrote that review, and yes, the prices have increased substantially since then. February 9, 2014 at 11:32amReply

Recommended Sites

Latest Comments

Inma in Persian Flower Delights: Love so much this article, yes, all my senses feel alive. Here in Seville I was asking to some business if they would let me see how they work with… March 21, 2019 at 4:21am

OtherWise in Persian Flower Delights: Reading this, I am reminded of how little practice I have in that blurry space where floral, indolic, sweet, and savory mingle. Even Earl Grey tea continues to present something… March 20, 2019 at 7:49am

Klaas in Persian Flower Delights: I’m no pro on Serge Lutens, but I know he re-released his lovely Fleurs de Citronnier. I don’t know if it has been reformulated, but I remeber it as a… March 20, 2019 at 4:09am